Underutilized agroforestry food products in Amazonas (Venezuela): a market chain analysis

The worlds' current food production system is focused on a limited number of crops. However, international food demand is increasingly looking for more diversified supplies. In the Venezuelan State Amazonas, the Piaroa indigenous people collect and cultivate several indigenous species with loca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agroforestry systems 2008-10, Vol.74 (2), p.127-141
Main Authors: Van Looy, Tinne, Carrero, G. Omar, Mathijs, Erik, Tollens, Eric
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
agroforestry
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Bactris gasipaes
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
commercialization
Euterpe
Euterpe precatoria
food crops
Food products
Food supply
foods
Forest products
Forestry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
indigenous peoples
Inga edulis
Jessenia batuau
Life Sciences
marketing
Native peoples
nontimber forest products
Pourouma cecropiifolia
Pouteria caimito
Solanum sessiliflorum
supply
surveys
Theobroma
Theobroma grandiflorum
underutilization
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Summary:The worlds' current food production system is focused on a limited number of crops. However, international food demand is increasingly looking for more diversified supplies. In the Venezuelan State Amazonas, the Piaroa indigenous people collect and cultivate several indigenous species with local, regional, national and even international potential. A participatory approach was used to select, in cooperation with these Piaroa people, a list of products for in-depth economic analysis and for introduction in agroforestry trials in a later phase. Seven agroforestry food products of this list were identified as underutilized. Primary data collected through consumer and trader surveys on the local markets and participatory exercises in selected Piaroa communities revealed that the main causes of underutilization are the general lack of transport, processing and market infrastructure in Amazonas; the lack of demand, due to a lack of product information; the lack of market information and cooperation between the different market chain actors; and the low productivity of the traditional slash and burn plots. Solutions to overcome the infrastructural constraints are sought by looking at the example set by a local NGO.
ISSN:0167-4366
1572-9680
DOI:10.1007/s10457-008-9110-0